Â The effects of second home tourism on improving life quality of rural residents (Case: Roudbar-e Qasran District Ù Shemiranat County) Â Â Â M.R. Rezvani, S.A. Badri, F. Sepahvand, S. R. Akbarian Roonizi Â Received: April 20, 2011/ Accepted: Decdmber 15, 2011, 5-9 P Â Â Â Extended abstract Â 1-Introduction Â Quality of life as a multidimensional concept and important aspect of living in human communities has been penetrated in many scientific fields including tourism. The relationship between tourism and local communitiesâ quality of life is generally considered and the subject is classified in relation to economic, social - cultural and environmental aspects. areas is considered as one of the patterns of tourism whose growth and development could have profound changes in many objectiveÂ Tourism as a major area of activity can improve quality of life for local residents. The pattern of second home tourism in rural and subjective parameters and characteristics of macro-economic, social, cultural and environmental aspects of destination communities. Quality of life in rural areas not only is affected by the factors, activities and events that exist in rural areas but also by external factors that affect the village and its inhabitants. The analysis of this type of tourism was necessary and important in the process of planning of rural development and rural tourism development. Thus, the main goal of the study is to investigate second home tourismâs effects on improving life quality of local residents in rural areas of Rudbar Qasran (Shemiranat County of Tehran province). Second home tourism has historically been promoted in the area since 1981, is suffused with life and consequently has had a profound impact on the lives of local residents. Therefore, recognizing the effects of this model of tourism on the rural residentsâ quality of life can provide the appropriate tourism development and promotion of quality of life for residents of the area. Â Â 2- Theoretical bases Â The formation and development of second homes caused from the development of tourism, is one of the important phenomena of the twentieth century and current century. A large part of second homes are built in rural areas. Second home tourism is emerged as an activity of the complex relationships between stakeholders in different locations due to various other activities. Therefore, its activities create the desired, undesired or complex effects on environmental, economic and social - cultural aspects of the host communities. When an area becomes a tourist destination second home, it affects lives of local residents. Local residentsâ quality of life is improved by the development of second homes hence, they are more likely to develop the activity. Thus, second homes tourism creates the change of economic, social, and environmental characteristics that can lead to an improvement in the quality of life. Quality of life is a concept that defines human life. This is a reflection of several factors and features that is usually synonymous with prosperity, opportunity, life satisfaction and prosperity, meeting demands, life power, capacity building, poverty, human poverty, living standards and development. When quality of life was introduced, its measurement was considered and a number of research and studies were performed in this field. Measuring indicators of quality of life (at any level) can be mainly classified in two categories: objective indicators and subjective indicators. Thus, to measure the quality of life, different areas have been provided by researchers. But the review, understanding and combining these areas, with emphasis on the researcher's goal, is important. Thus the role of second homes tourism in the quality of life is clarified through environmental, economic and social data that can be calculated by the host community and based on objective and subjective approaches. Here, in this article the objective approach has been applied. Â Â 3- Discussion Â Second home tourism areas would improve environmental quality, housing, health and welfare, participation and solidarity, work and employment, income and wealth has been exemplary in all villages. The results of this attempt show that second home tourism has influences in rural areas of Rudbar Qasran local residentsâ quality of life. So, in seven realms of nine studied realms including environmental quality, activity and employment, housing, health and welfare, income and wealth, participation and solidarity and the individual security and welfare have improved the local residentsâ quality of life but in two realms of education-culture and recreation-leisure, there was no improvement. Â Â 4- Conclusion Â Second home tourism is one of the effective phenomena in rural areas that made an improvement or a decline in the quality of life of rural residents. The results show that second home tourism has played an effective role in the quality of life of local residents in the rural areas. In seven of the nine territorial scope of the study, including the quality of the environment, activities and employment, housing, health and welfare, income and wealth, participation and solidarity, and security and personal well-being, there was an improvement in the quality of life of local residents but in the realm of education, culture, recreation and leisure there was no improvement. The results also show that the impact of tourism on the quality of life of second home tourism realm, there is a significant difference among the villages in all realms, except in the housing. Â Â 5- Suggestions Â The following suggestions are offered as the effective role of second homes tourism in quality of life of local residents: Â - Managing growth and expansion of second home tourism and preventing its unplanned promotion Â - Coordinating local agencies and executive agencies in the development of second homes tourism Â - Participation of people and local communities in the development of second homes tourism- Management of the tourism impacts and Â - Monitoring the tourism impacts. Â Â Â Â References Â Andrews, F. and Withey, S. (1976), Social Indicators of Well-being, Americanâs Perceptions of Life Quality. NY: Plenum Press. Â Blyth, C. (1972), Subjective vs. objective methods in statistics. American Statistician 26(3): 20-22. Â Eftekhari, A.R., Fatahi, A and Hajipoor, M. (2001), Spatial Distribution Assessment Quality of Life in rural Area, Journal of Rural Research, Vol.6, pp69-94. Â Eid, M. and E. Diener. 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